Organisation of the UK Blood and Tissue Services - Introduction - Chapter 1

There are four national Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services in the UK:

• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority within the NHS, and provides Blood Services and tissues in England and North Wales, and organs for the whole of the UK.
• The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) is managed by NHS National Services Scotland.
• The Welsh Blood Service (WBS) is provided and managed by Velindre NHS Trust.
• The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) is managed by the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Special Agency.

These are Blood Establishments.

Following devolution of governments in the UK, the UK Forum was established in 1999 comprising the chief executives and medical directors of the four services. JPAC became accountable to the medical directors, who themselves are accountable to their chief executives. The close working relationship with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) South Mimms Laboratories (formerly the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control; NIBSC) has been maintained through the Director of MHRA South Mimms Laboratories.